DOVER – The House Wednesday passed the state’s annual state operating budget legislation, which solidifies Delaware’s commitment to state workers and retirees and makes a slew of new investments in public schools, higher education and health care services.
The budget consists of two pieces of legislation: House Bill 250, the $4.77 billion fiscal 2022 spending bill, and House Bill 251, a $221 million supplemental measure consisting of one-time expenditures and contingency funds.
“We were fortunate this year that, even in the wake of a global pandemic, we had the resources and the will to make the kind of investments that will strengthen our state’s economy, support our workers and retirees, and broaden educational opportunities for our children up and down the state,” said Rep. Bill Carson, D-Smyrna, co-chair of the General Assembly’s budget-drafting Joint Finance Committee. “I want to thank co-chair Senator Paradee, my fellow members of the Joint Finance Committee, Controller General Ruth Ann Jones and her dedicated staff, as well as all of my colleagues in the House for their support today.”
The budget represents growth of 4.94% over the current fiscal year. Both spending bills passed the House with wide bipartisan support and now head to the Senate for consideration.
“I’m proud of the work our committee did this year,” said Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee. “This is a state that prides itself on building a balanced budget, year after year, while ensuring that each resident gets the basic services they need to succeed. This budget does that while also setting aside savings for the future. Maintaining a strong, solvent, and equitable state starts here, and I join my House colleagues in celebrating the passage of the FY22 budget.”
The House votes today continue the recent tradition of drafting, presenting and voting on the annual budget well in advance of the deadline of June 30th, which is both the final day of the fiscal year and the last regular session day of the legislative year.
“This budget demonstrates a strong commitment to improving public education in Delaware and targeting underserved students and those with special needs, and supporting the educators who are dedicated to helping them shape their futures,” said Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport, a member of the JFC and chair of the House Education Committee. “Though some of these investments in our schools are long overdue, I am thankful for the transformation they will help bring about for communities all across Delaware.”
“This year’s budget is something I think we can all be proud of,” said Senate President Pro Tempore David Sokola. “Beyond simply laying out the spending line items for the year, this document sets us on a path toward closing long-standing gaps in funding for special education, healthcare services, first responders and more. As we all recover from the past year of pandemic response, this spending plan – I believe – is a cause for optimism and a renewed commitment to building a better state for all Delawareans.”
Notable items in the budget bills include:
- $17.2 million to increase reimbursement rates for Direct Support Professionals serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, fulfilling the promise of phased-in progress toward funding benchmarks established in the McNesby Act.
- $2.6 million to increase rates for home-based nursing care.
- $16 million for student mental health services, including $8 million to fully fund the placement of a mental health professional in every Delaware elementary school.
- $22 million in additional education Opportunity Funds to address the needs of low income and English learner students.
- $10.2 million for the Redding Consortium to advance educational equity for students in the City of Wilmington and northern New Castle County.
- $4.3 million toward expansion of SEED and Inspire scholarships for Delaware students.
- $5.2 million to implement a statewide body-worn camera program for police officers.
- $1 million to fund a primary care physician loan repayment program.
- $1 million implement a property tax credit for disabled veterans.
- A stable and supportive pay and benefits package for state workers and retirees, which includes:
- A $500 pay increase for all state workers, as well as a one-time bonus of $1,000 to be distributed in November.
- A 1% pay increase for educators, in addition to salary steps.
- $20 million in contingency funds to cover projected state employee health insurance costs and ensure employees incur no rate increases this fiscal year.
- Raises of 1-3% for state pensioners, based on years of retirement, as well as a one-time bonus of $500 to be distributed in November.
HB 250 and HB 251 now head to the Senate for consideration.
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